Is it possible, after viewing last night's episode, that Desmond's vision was of HIMSELF getting on a helicopter all along? However, he knew that wasn't exactly Charlie would die for. But by saying Claire and Aaron (assuming, "hey, if I get rescued, Claire and the rest probably aren't too far behind, I'll say Claire gets rescued too") he knows Charlie will sacrifice himself.
This is the reason Desmond, who is the only one who saw "Not Penny's Boat" on Charlie's hand, decided to go against Hurley and stick with Jack, knowing that his best chance at getting on the helicopter. That's also the reason for the huge smile and the "well I'll be" or whatever he said when he sees Jack/Helicopter. He wasn't excited to see Jack (who he had just seen a day or 2 before), he was excited to see the Helicopter. He knew his vision was coming true.
This is also why he had such a look when Hurley told Claire about Charlie. It's not that Desmond didn't like Charlie, he just knew this was his only way off the island, and he feels terrible, but like Sawyer, he's trying to survive.
No other Desmond vision has ever been so stretched out. Most are about an hour's worth of vision, and the longest has been about a day's worth, tops. Claire is in the water, Charlie goes after her, Charlie dies - end of vision.
Short vision.
The men go camping, see the light, find the parachutist - end of vision
This is the longest vision, maybe the day, more likely 12 hours.
This Claire vision, however, has been about 2-3 days already, and there is still no end in sight as Claire is with Locke. However, if the vision was Desmond all along, it explains things better.
Desmond may or may not have told Sayid that he was in the helicopter too, if he did, maybe this explains why Sayid, who was determined to stop Jack from making the call originally, also then sticks with Jack.

Yes, that would also explain why we were never shown that vision, most of the other ones we are shown when Desmond has them. By keeping it a secret from the viewers, we are having to trust what Desmond has said about it; I always thought it was weird how he was just saying it, and we weren't shown it

Yes, that would also explain why we were never shown that vision, most of the other ones we are shown when Desmond has them.

By "Most of the others", you mean like one out of five?

Could be possible that Charlie's message changed the vision -- Desmond's actions changed many of the visions of Charlie he had -- he saved him numerous times.

What I'm saying is that Claire was supposed to get on the helicopter but the message Charlie wrote put her with Locke and changed the whole outcome, just like when Des would step in and save Charlie from certain death in previous visions.

At the same time the helicopter is supposed to be coming back -- so it's possible that Claire could get on at some time in the future ( although for some reason I don't think she's one of the six -- just my opinion mind you -- I could certainly be wrong).

And any way if these guys are the bad guys it's possible that Claire leaving out on the chopper could lead to her death.

good answer, good answer!

only time will tell.

Could be possible that Charlie's message changed the vision -- Desmond's actions changed many of the visions of Charlie he had -- he saved him numerous times.

What I'm saying is that Claire was supposed to get on the helicopter but the message Charlie wrote put her with Locke and changed the whole outcome, just like when Des would step in and save Charlie from certain death in previous visions.

At the same time the helicopter is supposed to be coming back -- so it's possible that Claire could get on at some time in the future ( although for some reason I don't think she's one of the six -- just my opinion mind you -- I could certainly be wrong).

And any way if these guys are the bad guys it's possible that Claire leaving out on the chopper could lead to her death.

In order for Desmond to get Claire and convince her that it is a good thing and to leave Locke, he would have to have an awkward conversation with her about what exactly his vision was and how Charlie knew he was going to die and everything, but with everything that has happened since, it makes things weird.

No, I don't think he lied. I think eventually, Claire and Aaron will get on a helicopter.

Yeah,...Im undecided. Leaning towards he lied, but I'll put this forth...perhaps they'll end up on A helicopter, but it may not be a good thing. They could be 'captured'! AGAIN!

The thing you got to look at is, has Desmond ever lied on the island.

He gave Mikhal his word that if he saved Naomi he would let him go and he did, even after he stole the sat phone. Although Desmond said all he has is his word and if he gave it, he must keep it.

The thing is Desmond has not lied on island. He never told everyone the truth but he never out right lied to them. I still think his vision is that Claire gets off island but what's happening now with Desmond has nothing to do with his vision. He is going off hand so to speak.

Plus remember we have only seen 1 of Desmond's visions out of all of them. So that arguement goes out the window. Its not like we have seen every vision up to this one. We have only seen one vision beforehand.

He very well could have lied. Charlie was destined to die eventually if Des didn't keep saving him. If Des did lie, it only served to help Charlie face it bravely. Des wasn't sending him to his death, it was going to happen anyway and this was a way off the island. Des only gets small pieces, he could have thought they would all be rescued if Charlie went through with it. He could have thought it was for the greater good of all of them.

The thing is Desmond has not lied on island.

Yes, he has. Desmond lied to Charlie all the way through Catch-22. He said the trek to find the parachutist had nothing to do with Charlie's death and it did. Even when Charlie got suspicious of him, Desmond continued to lie until he couldn't go through with it and saved Charlie from the arrow.

So is it possible Desmond lied about the Claire/helicopter vision? Yes, he is capable. Do I think Desmond did lie to Charlie? No. I think Desmond came across as very genuine in the final eps of S3. He was supportive of Charlie and even offered to go in his place. And he really seemed like he wanted to bash that door down and save Charlie if he could.

I think if Desmond really did see himself getting on the chopper, not Claire...it'd be a huge character assassination. I hope they don't do that.

I must adamently say that I disagree...Des did not lie to Charlie. I could see a character like Sawyer doing such a thing, but that just doesn't work with Desmond's character. He even volunteered to go in Charlie's stead until Charlie whacked him with an oar. If Desmond really was that cold-hearted, he also would have let the arrow hit Charlie in the neck in the earlier episode, if he truly was a self-serving man, which he is not.

I think Desmond has been conflicted about Charlie the whole time he's been having visions and saving Charlie and then finally having a vision that showed rescue and deciding what to do about it. I don't think he lied to Charlie but he may have withheld info in his desire to find Penny whom he thought was trying to find him.

I've been thinking this same thing ever since the finale. Desmond is only helping himself. He has no attachments to any of these people. He only wants to be reunited with Penny and he will do anything for that to happen. I don't really believe this makes him a truly bad person. He manipulated a situation in his favor. Charlie was going to die no matter what Desmond did so he told Charlie that Claire and Aaron would be saved to insure he would complete his mission.

The only "flash" I remember seeing, is the one with Rousseau's trap. I dont recall seeing Charlie flipping that "switch", in fact, Des wanted to trade places with Charlie. He thought maybe he was meant to die, not Charlie. Did Des see a "flash" of Charlie tricking him and knocking him unconsious?
we may never know, lol.





"dude, you got some Arzt on you"

I think Charlie's dying message changed desmond's mind about the nature of his vision (could have really been claire&aaron, we did actually see charlie get arrow'd) and that he is changing those events by treating the freighties as a threat. He did have a rifle slung over his shoulder afterall.

I don't think Desmond is manipulative enough to make such a huge lie that played on Charlie's feelings for Claire. I think it's a good idea that the "Not Penny's Boat" message ended up changing the outcomes, since everyone would have been waiting for the helicopter, and Claire would not have gone with Locke to Othersville.

Now that Desmond has left, will he ever give Claire the piece of paper with Charlie's "Greatest Hits"? I hope so...